If anyone is familiar with Long Beach, NY then you know all about "Sunday Funday" and a bar called The Jetty. This romantic tale starts with -girl walks into a bar, walks up to get a drink, girls meets boy, boy helps girl secure her tequila from the bartender he knows. Sure enough after some sips and casual conversation, Thomas "guessed" that Natalie was a nurse, and at first Natalie assumed Thomas was a cop. For the first and only time ever, Thomas was right and Natalie was wrong. While chatting we realized how much we had in common such as careers in medicine, love for running and athleticism, and how important our friends are to us, especially while witnessing Thomas being surrounded by a group of friends and the whole Sunday Funday crew (who were doing their best to wingman). After that, it was an exchange of phone numbers, a first date at an Italian restaurant, and a mutual love of food and travel that bonded us quickly. It immediately felt comfortable and familiar. The past 2 years have been filled with multiple half marathons, full marathons, triathlons, trips to Bahamas, San Diego, Marco Island, Montauk, Greece, Miami, Hawaii, and soon Portugal.

One of Natalie's longest and closest friends, Katie Usher, is a full time resident in Montauk, NY. Therefore over the many years of venturing out to Montauk and having all sorts of adventures, it has become a special place for Natalie. Last year we spent Thomas's 30th birthday in Montauk and had planned to do the same this year, but little did I know it would hold even more magic than usual. It started off as a typical day for us-wake up, go for a run, then beach- our usual routine. The evening plan was to go out to a fancy birthday dinner and stop by the Montauk Lighthouse beforehand as Thomas has never been there, and Katie offered to go and drink champagne in honor of his "birthday". As we were walking down the cliffs overlooking the edge of the world, I did notice how suspiciously sweaty Thomas's hands were, but didn't think much of it. Sure enough a minute into our walk, with the skies opening up and sun beaming down, he got down on one knee and gave me the surprise of a lifetime. A birthday gift that will last forever, a yes! As if that wasn't enough of a surprise, turns out there was no "birthday dinner", and Thomas and Katie had been in cahoots for months. After popping the question there was a hidden photographer, a private tour of the Montauk Lighthouse, and a beautifully planned dinner with our parents and immediate family. All on a Tuesday night ! Safe to say it was the best trip to Montauk yet.

Being Thomas proposed on his birthday, Natalie figured she would follow suit and say "I do" on HER birthday! Yes, there will be wedding AND birthday cake. Fun facts, 10/04/2024 is Natalie's 31st Birthday, National Taco Day, and the 40th Friday of 2024